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Raden voor de Leefomgeving en infrastructuur: tav. Raad voor het Landelijk Gebied (RLG) Visitors' address: Oranjebuitensingel 6/4 2511 VE Den Haag Postbus 30949, ipc 105 2500 GX Den Haag The Netherlands Tel. +31 703391989 | 703391505 Fax. +31 70 339 19 70 raad.landelijk.gebied@minlnv.nl www.rlg.nl |
As from 1 September, RLG will have a common
office with the VROMraad at this address:
Nieuwe Uitleg 1 The Netherlands |
Establishment and Mission
Council Members and Staff Members
What does the future hold for the Council for Rural Areas? The policy paper submitted by Minister Ter Horst in 2007 on the renewal of government services (Nota Vernieuwing Rijksdienst) proposes that the current advisory councils be accommodated in five policy clusters. Hopefully, this will lead to more integrated recommendatory reports. It means that the Council for Rural Areas, the Council for Housing, Spatial Planning & the Environment and the Council for Transport & Water Management will be bundled in a new 'Council for the Living Environment'. The policy paper sparked a broad debate on the future of the advisory and knowledge infrastructure. This debate continued unabated in 2008. At the end of 2008, Minister ter Horst sent a policy paper entitled Kwaliteit van de verbinding (Quality of the Connection) to the Dutch Parliament. The Lower Chamber voted to continue along the same route. This meant that the Council for Rural Areas had to get ready to merge with the other two councils. Anticipating the progress of the paper through the Upper Chamber (which took place in early 2009), the Secretaries General of the three ministries began the preparations for merging the three secretariats and accordingly appointed a quartermaster. In 2009 a new council will be appointed which will advise both Chambers of Parliament on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable development of the living environment and infrastructure, with particular emphasis on housing, spatial planning, the natural environment, climate, water, agriculture, ecology, food and food quality, traffic and transport, and spatial-economic development, both separately and in relation to one another.
The new council will be installed 1 January 2010.
The Council for Rural Area is working on the following advisory topics:
Closing Report
In its report "Fallow Field", the Council issues recommendations
on the position of the provinces in the future development of rural areas. In
the past, the rural area has been seen to hold an innate, intrinsic value,
whereby urban influences were considered a threat against which it must be
protected. Today, the economic and food supply crises, the rapidly growing
demand for energy, water shortages, declining biodiversity and climate change
raise new societal demands. Moreover, the rural area now derives much of its
value from the towns, cities and the urban population. This trend will become
even more marked in future. Like other European countries, the Netherlands is
experiencing significant demographic shifts, including a falling birth rate, a
more varied ethnic mix due to immigration, and population ageing. The overall
result is a reduction in the working population, less demand for housing and
schools and greater demand for amenities addressing the needs of the elderly.
As young people migrate from the rural areas into the cities, the average age
of those left behind is increasing. Seniors generally attach great importance
to the quality of their human environment. Because the number of households
will continue to decrease, there is now an opportunity to create more space
for nature and agriculture, and to explore new ways of addressing various
social and societal requirements. At the same time, it will be possible to
counter trends of urbanization and the 'estrangement' of the general public
from rural areas.
In the Closing Report the Council brings together and refines a number of its published recommendations in the light of recent developments and public debates which were triggered or fuelled by earlier reports. This creates scope for new perspectives. Read more
Coral reefs in the Netherlands
The administrative relations in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are
about to undergo a dramatic change. At the end of 2010 the Kingdom will
consist of four countries: the Netherlands, Curacao, St. Martin and Aruba. The
islands of Bonaire, St. Eustace and Saba (the BES islands) will become part of
the Netherlands and will be accorded the status of a public entity, similar to
a Dutch municipality. The incorporation of the BES islands in the Kingdom of
the Netherlands will increase the political responsibility of the Minister of
Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in relation to the natural environment.
Though the natural environment will not be much greater in terms of surface
area, the increase in richness will be spectacular. Biodiversity in the
Netherlands, which so far has numbered some 4,000 species, will increase by
around 10,000 species, including 200 which are unique for the Dutch Antilles
on a global scale and over 100 which are on the CITES list. The Caribbean
coral reefs, atolls and cloud forests rank as important landscape alongside
the heathland and the dunes.
Experience has shown that amenities that run smoothly are at risk of being
lost during processes of change. Often, these amenities are rebuilt at higher
costs to society after problems have mounted and become urgent. Human
knowledge and experience are then lost. The valuable biodiversity and natural
assets of the islands must not be exposed to this risk.
The local authority on the island bears a heavy responsibility for the policy
on the natural environment, but ultimate responsibility rests with the
national government. In this report the Council puts forward suggestions for
fulfilling the new responsibilities at local and national level. The Council
has been in communication with the Dutch Advisory Council for Public
Administration.
The published report is published in June 2009.
Colour
me Green
The Council was asked to carry out a structural analysis of
multiculturalism in the working domain of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature
and Food Quality. The Council chose the perspectives of 'education and the
labour market' because most of the opportunities for multicultural integration
lie in the classroom and the workplace.
The Council is exploring opportunities to provide new target groups with
sufficient numbers of well qualified personnel. The innovative power and
vitality of the green sector are being undermined by the lack of manpower and
- particularly - the lack of skills on the job market. This situation is due
to fundamental shortcomings, not least the dearth of cultural diversity in the
sector. Ethnic groups form an important part of the current and future working
population. A large group of increasingly better qualified people have not
made themselves available for employment in the green sector. The image of the
green sector and the image of ethnic groups play an important role on both
sides of this issue.
In a short documentary film that was specially made for this report people
explain how their organisations, such as Zaanstreek First in Food (food
industry) and Greenport Venlo (horticulture sector), have taken regional
initiatives to increase the inflow into the green sector. The recommendations
are intended for the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. The
report also addresses educational institutes and employers in the green
sector.
Response - Anita Wouters, Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture,
Nature and Food Quality accepted the report on 17 February 2009 on behalf of
the Minister, Gerda Verburg. Ms Wouters intimated that the ministry is
tightening its control and formulating a vision as part of a broader task to
give cultural diversity a visible and quantifiable place in all policy domains
and in the ministry's own HRM policy. She said she preferred an active
approach and that the Colour Me Green initiatives of the agricultural
education centres, STOAS University of Applied Sciences and Aequor expertise
centre could be an inspiration for other ANF partners.
Farmers
with a Green Heart
In 2008 the Council for Rural Areas, the Council for Housing, Spatial Planning
& the Environment and the Council for Transport & Water Management
co-produced a recommendatory report for the Randstad Vision 2040 (Connect and
Intersect). When the councils were drafting the report it emerged that they
did not have an integrated vision of the longer-term perspective of
agriculture in the Green Heart in relation to the environmental conditions
(water, soil, nature). The Council tackled this problem by examining the
strengths of Green Heart agriculture now and in the future and by determining
whether they are spatially differentiated. The Council asked the research
institute at LEI Wageningen to assess the value, the autonomous strengths and
the perspectives for agriculture in different parts of the Green Heart. This
resulted in a statistical picture of the agriculture, which now forms part of
the report 'Farmers with a Green Heart'. The Council also engaged in one
discussion with the agrocluster and a series of informal discussions which
were specially designed by CLM Onderzoek en Advies BV to allow groups of
farmers from different parts of the Green Heart to voice their opinions. The
farmers provided further insight into diversity, strategies and
entrepreneurial ambitions. The discussions are reported in 'The Strengths of
Green Heart Agriculture'.
The Council has ascertained that, subject to regional differences, the Green
Heart is an excellent and strong agricultural area. A new spirit of
entrepreneurship is emerging with farmers who see good prospects for the
future and who are learning to exploit the benefits of the landscape from
generation to generation. The Council will present the recommendations to
national and local government, societal organisations and the agriculture
sector in a persuasive manner.
The report is presented to the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in June 2009.
Protein Transition
The Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality asked the Council for
Rural Areas to address the issue of 'meat consumption' in its work programme.
The Council had intended to explore the feasibility and advisability of
'protein transition' with the emphasis on two questions:
The Council has spoken with the various parties and studied the copious
literature. It observes that a lot of useful material has been published
recently and that appropriate research has begun - instigated mainly by the
Ministry. The Council notes that the production of (animal) protein places a
heavy strain on energy, land and water and accounts for a significant share of
the worldwide emissions of greenhouse gases. The protein supply chain urgently
needs to become more sustainable. Such a transition has the potential to
deliver considerable benefits. The Council realises that there are no
ready-made solutions Though government action is required, this is a problem
which - quite literally - is on everyone's plate.
The Council observes that the above line of thinking is central in the vision
of the Cabinet, that it is being propagated by the Minister of Agriculture,
Nature and Food Quality and that the minister intends to work out the next
stages of the programme in dialogue with the many interested parties. The
Council will therefore issue no more recommendations on this theme.
The
Significance of Climate Change for the Natural Environment
The effects of climate change on the natural environment also extend to the
way our needs are met by nature and how we exercise our responsibility for the
conservation of flora and fauna in the Netherlands. Climate change affects
supply and demand in the natural environment in terms of quality (which types
of ecosystems?) and quantity (which surfaces?). We started exploring these
issues this year as part of a broader commission from the Ministry of
Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
Climate change causes shifts in climatic zones. As a result, the propagation
areas of flora and fauna move northwards from the south. Extreme weather
conditions are occurring more frequently and threatening the existence of
local species. One way to give threatened species a chance of survival is to
establish large continuous nature areas with good interconnections on a
national and European scale, the idea being that the flora and fauna will move
with the climatic zones. However, even an optimal spatial set-up will not
prevent some species from dying out in the Netherlands. Meantime, new species
will arrive from the south. Changes in abiotic conditions (water/temperature)
and the composition of species will cause ecosystems to appear and disappear.
The primary objective for the Dutch government's policy on nature is
'conservation, recovery, development and sustainable use of nature and
landscape as an essential contributor to a liveable and sustainable society'.
Concrete goals such as stopping the decline in Dutch species by 2010 (European
policy) and retaining the composition of species by 2020 at the same level as
1982 (national policy) have been rendered more or less unviable by climate
change. Other objectives, such as the hectare targets for nature around
cities, may no longer be appropriate in a society under the influence of
climate change. This is necessitating a change of policy. The targets for
species and ecosystems need to be adjusted given that static aims, such as
safeguarding species via conservation, recovery and development, no longer
suffice. Targets also need to be defined for steering the spatial dynamics of
species and ecosystems. Goals for quantity and locations (e.g. near cities)
may need to be recalibrated on the basis of developments in the public demand
for nature.
This report is expected to be published as part of a larger report in 2009.
Animal Transport and
Animal Welfare
The commotion in the spring of 2008 about the plight of animals during
transportation reflected the increasing public interest in animal welfare and
prompted the Council to look into the possibilities of formulating
recommendations on animal welfare in the meat production industry. More and
more people are defending the right of animals to a decent existence. The
concern for animal welfare is expressed not only through legislation, but also
in political pressure for even tighter legislation and in action groups that
launch campaigns directed at meat producers, shops and consumers. Apparently,
a large part of the Dutch population feel that our meat production needs more
regulation. But safeguarding animal welfare is no simple matter. The
responsibility is spread across different parts the production chain. The meat
market is an international market in which the Netherlands has only limited
freedom. Competition is keen, so the extra costs of animal welfare would soon
have profound economic implications. The complexity of the situation is
impeding attempts to improve animal welfare.
The Council notes a willingness on the part of all the parties involved and
has observed an improvement in animal welfare, but it finds the pace far too
slow. Given the vested interests and the complexity of the problem, the
parties approach one another with caution. This attitude needs to be broken by
some straight talking. The Council feels that the parties should do more to
remind the consumer of his responsibility. The government - in keeping with
the spirit of the times - is becoming increasingly wary and the consumer
refuses to accept any moral standpoint that it adopts. Stores and production
chains are all too aware of the different interests that are at stake so they
do not approach the consumer. Businesses that do not produce animal-friendly
products are afraid of losing their share of the market. Campaigning
organisations that can appeal to the consumer and put pressure on retailers at
the same time can be very effective (free-range eggs, pig castration, organic
milk).
The Council's recommendations will look at the possibility of using financial incentives to encourage consumers to buy animal-friendly meat.
The report is expected to be published in mid-2009.
2008 the RLG had the following priorities:
The Council issued the following recommendatory reports in 2008:
For even earlier priorities, see the following links:
Priorities and advisory programme 2008
Priorities and advisory programme 2007
Priorities and advisory programme 2006
Priorities and advisory programme 2005
Previous priorities and advisory programme 2004
Previous priorities and advisory programmes 2002-2003
Previous priorities and advisory programmes 2000-2001
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The Advisory Council for the Rural Area (RLG) was statutorily set up by
the Law on the Council for the Rural Area in combination with the
Framework Law on Advisory Councils, and is one of the
broadly based advisory councils in the advisory system of the Dutch
Government.
The Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries
established this
Council in 1997. Independent advisory bodies have a solid basis in the
The RLG was set up on 28 January 1997, by the Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries.
The council is currently under reconstruction. Together with the Council for Housing, Spatial Planning & the Environment (VROM-Raad) and the Council for Transport and Water Management will be bundled in a new 'Council for the Living Environment'. The new council will be installed 1 January 2010. For more information see "Current and future activities"
▲
The Council advises the Dutch Government and both Chambers of Parliament on strategic policy questions concerning the rural area, nature, agriculture and food quality. Considering this advisory task, the Council intends to take the concept of rural area broadly. The RLG's advice is also focused on nature, recreation and businesses connected with agriculture in and around urban areas.
▲
The RLG has 10 Council Members. The law prescribes that its
members
must be independent and that they must be appointed on the basis of
their
expertise in the sphere of activity for which the Council was
established, and
for their knowledge and their experience in society and governance. The Queen appoints new members of the council on advice by the
Minister of Agriculture.
| Chairman Prof. Peter van Wijmen |
Professor Nature Conservation Law, University of Tilburg |
| Ben van Essen | Sociologist |
| Koos Koolen | Independent advisor |
| Dairy Cattle farmer | |
| Philosopher, Pedagogue | |
| Freelance advisor on land planning development | |
| Economist | |
| Politician | |
| Management Consultant | |
| Mayor of Leisden |
▲
The Council has a secretariat with around 12 staff. Hans van der Kooi is the Secretary-General.
The Council
seeks to give independent, solid and compact advice on strategic issues for the
medium and long term that matches the policy agenda; independent advice that
offer policymakers perspectives and that stimulate societal discussions and
public debate.
The advisory
reports are accomplished in an open consultation process. For every advisory
project the Council composes a working group of Council members supplemented by
external experts. This group, supported by one or two staff members, prepares
the advice. In this, the Council applies various forms of external consultation.
The Council's staff plays an important role in organising and co-ordinating
these activities, and in fitting and integrating the results in the advice.
The Council consists of 11 independent members, chosen because of their
specific experience and expertise built up within science, through practical
experience within societal organizations and/or administrative background.
The
Council develops its annual advisory programme in consultation with the
department. The advisory programme has been approved by the government. The
Council is free to add important issues but is expected to inform the minister
of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality about these new issues.
▲
The Council meets every third Thursday of the month, ten times per year. For 2009 the meetings are scheduled for: 15 January, 19 February, 19 March, 16 April, 14 May, 24 and 25 June, 17 September, 15 October, 19 November, and 10 December.
▲
The Advisory Programme of the council contains issues formulated by the government or by own initiative of the council.
▲
In 2005, together with the Hungarian OKT, the RLG organised a conference on rural development: Rural Resources at Risk. It also co-hosted the 5th Annual Conference 1997 on Self Regulation within Society together with the Dutch RMNO and VROM-Raad.
▲
Not all the advisory reports have an English summary. The data below reach back, furthermore, to 2001 only. For a full list of reports and publications, see www.rlg.nl.
Copyright © 2000-2009 by European
Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils, Den
Haag. All Rights Reserved.
Last update: 05 October 2009